MANILA, Philippines—The man who was arrested on January 17 for flying a camera-mounted drone near a hotel a few blocks from where Pope Francis stayed in Manila could face a maximum fine of P500,000 for violating the “no-drone policy,” the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said on Wednesday.
Michael Sy Yu, 35, photographer and owner of ISnap Creatives Inc., was arrested by policemen for flying the drone near Diamond Hotel in Manila on Saturday morning.
“This is under investigation. Once it’s proven that he went against the no-drone policy during the papal visit, the penalty could be a fine of P300,000 to P500,000 and apprehension,” CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio said in Filipino in an interview over Radyo Inquirer 990AM.
Apolonio said the drone was already turned over by the police to CAAP as an investigation was ongoing.
He said that aside from the hefty fine, imprisonment awaited Yu if proven guilty of violating the no-drone policy.
A no fly-zone and no-drone policy had been implemented by the CAAP to ensure the security of Pope Francis during his five-day apostolic and state visit to the Philippines.
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